Page 7
7
MERCY
I eye the woman in front of me, fighting the all-consuming need to wrap my hand back around her throat and stake my claim. To hold her close and settle the rage stored inside my soul.
The fuck? Stake my claim? I’ve obviously fucking lost my mind.
“Our vests are called cuts,” Remedy gives her a soft smile as he follows up on his correction from the office. He has perfected the calm demeanor used to disarm those around him, making them comfortable enough to start talking.
“Wh-What? Oh … vests or cuts, it doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that men wearing the same things came into that hellhole, blew it right the hell up, and then tried to shoot me. So again, I ask—are you going to kill me?” she snaps, her small body stiffening under our stares, seemingly annoyed.
I’m watching close enough that I see the tremble of her lips and the shaking of her hands after she snaps at everyone. Oh, my little lamb isn’t as tough as she would like us to believe she is.
“Whether or not we kill you depends on what you’re willing to tell us about what happened last night,” Blender murmurs, leaning close to her and taking satisfaction in the fear that rolls off her.
She looks over her shoulder first at him, turning so white that I fear she might actually pass out. Her gaze swept across the room, lingering on each man before she rose, her chair screeching slightly as she turned it to face me. “If I choose not to answer your questions or say anything, then what?”
I don’t move a muscle or say anything as she watches me watch her. The need to possess her is something I can no longer fight. I strike out, wrapping my hand around her throat, pulling her to her feet. Once she is standing, I bring her so she is nose-to-nose with me. “You will answer the questions and tell us everything you know. If you don’t, then death will be what you wish for by the time we are done with you. This is the only time you get a choice because don’t be confused, we will get the answers we want.”
The look of shock and even a little horror causes me to smirk. Using the grip I have on her, I turn her so she is facing the men at the table. My hand doesn’t loosen or move. With her back to me, my arm lays between her ample chest. Using my thumb, I stroke the racing pulse point. I take several large steps back, dragging her with me so I can lean on the wall, causing her to have to lean against my chest.
Pres started speaking before I made my move, “We don’t plan to hurt … damn it, Mercy let her fucking go,” he finishes.
I lean into her ear, making eye contact with my Pres as I speak low, “I don’t think I will. I like having our little lamb tucked tight to the big bad wolf.”
I flex my fingers around her throat as she swallows. Breathing deep, I take in the scent of her—blood, fire, smoke, and booze. Under all that, there is a hint of wildflowers and cinnamon. My cock is stone at this point. Tilting her head so I can stare into her all-knowing orbs daring me to do something, I squeeze just a little harder to gauge what reaction I’ll get from our little lamb. The black that’s wrapped around my soul shifts when I find under all her fear there is desire flaring and begging to be stocked.
She reaches up, wrapping her small hands around my wrist. “If I’m dead, you won't get any answers from me. So, what do you want more—me dead or the answers you seek?”
“Damn it, Mercy, let her fucking go,” Pres’s roar finally breaking through the spell she seems to have cast on me.
“No, she can talk from here.” Giving a small shrug, I tighten my hold on her throat, never breaking eye contact with her. “Best way to know if someone is lying is their pulse. I have the perfect feel of it right here.”
Terro pinches his nose, shaking his head. “One day! All I ask is for one day that one of these psychos doesn’t thirst for the taste of the kill.”
“Should’ve found different friends there, brother,” Rhino chuckles, leaning back into his chair.
My little lamb whimpers in my hold at the same time as I watch the fire from her soul rage in her eyes. The sound nearly causes me to cum in my jeans like a fucking teenager. My imagination brings up images of other things I could do to cause her to whimper like that. I watch the fire flame brighter just as I feel the bite of her nails as she digs them into the soft flesh of my wrist. Hissing through my teeth at the pain, I don’t even try to stop the psychotic smile that spreads across my face.
“Oh, it seems our sweet little lamb has claws,” I murmur, leaning into her so my mouth is just a whisper away from hers. “Are you prepared for the consequences of your actions, Little Lamb?”
“What worse could you do when currently my only option is dying?” Her eyes go wide when the last word leaves her mouth as if she didn’t mean to say it out loud.
“Oh, there are things so much worse than death.” I place a chaste kiss on her mouth. “My question right this second is, are you willing to pay up?”
Before she can process what just happened, I pull away, using my thumb to tilt her head back to the men at the table. I don’t loosen my hold on her, instead pulling back even tighter to my body so that she has no choice but to lean her whole body against me. Making sure she can feel my cock when she does. I finally look around to find most everyone glaring at me. I make eye contact with Blender, who looks more confused than anything.
“Okay, Paisley,” Pres starts again. “Now that we know everyone. Can you tell me what happened to you?”
The sound of Pres saying her name makes me want to cut his tongue out. The rational side of my brain, however small it is, keeps a tight rein on the impulse. I reach out with my free hand, sliding it around her waist, pulling her even tighter to my body. Paisley doesn’t make a sound and seems to hold her breath.
“Breath,” I grunt as I loosen my hold on her.
Paisley exhales. “What would you like to know? I truly don’t know anything!”
Hermes opens his laptop and starts tapping away before looking back up at Paisley. “Let’s start with a last name. Would you be willing to give us that?”
If it’s even possible, Paisley stiffens even more, her heart picking up when she whispers fearfully, almost unsure, “Larson?”
Terro tilts his head, catching onto the fact she didn’t sound so sure. “Are you asking us or telling us what your last name is?”
“Telling, but what does my name have to do with my story?” Paisley counters showing us that the little lamb does indeed either have some fight or a death wish.
I tighten my grip on her throat. “Are you wishing for death? Because that mouth of yours seems to be asking for it. Tell us what we want and to know—being honest —so we can move this along.”
Paisley gives me a nod and lets out a huff. “What I can tell you is whatever night it was that I went to the shithole bar—some asshole tried to shoot me. I went with my roommate Gloria because somebody on Instagram told her she should go. She asked me to go with her so she wasn’t alone. I agreed to go even though I would have much rather been at home getting ready to start my new job.” Ainsley pauses when Hermes starts typing away as she talks. I swear I feel a tear run down the back of my hand as she hangs her head.
“Do you know who invited her to go?” Blitz asks.
I feel the slim column of her neck struggle to move under my hand as Paisley swallows.
“I don’t know. It was some people she follows on Instagram or something. I thought it was super sketchy, and we even fought about going inside while in the parking lot. She refused to leave, and I couldn’t just let her go in alone. So, we went in. I didn’t even have time to take but one drink of my beer when I heard an explosion and heat at my back.” She looks at me over her shoulder and I would bet my life that I see guilt shining at me from her, and it unnerves me.
“What else can you tell us about what happened?” Pres tries to encourage her to continue.
“After the initial blast, I woke up to a man standing over me. He had on one of your …” She waves a hand at the guys around the table. “ Cuts , I guess is the word. Anyway … He made a statement like it’s sure sad that such a pretty one has to die … or something . That’s not exact, but after that he pointed the gun at me. There was a loud pop and my head exploded with pain. The next thing I know, I’m here with you all.” She finishes and to my utter shock, she relaxes back against me.
Everyone watches with shock. I give a slight shrug, not understanding myself. Hermes is busy typing away on his laptop while we take in the information she gives us. The monster that thrives for death perks up wanting the blood of the man that hurt her. I suck in a breath, loosening my hold on her. The feeling hits me so hard taking my breath away. The monster has only ever taken an interest in my brother and sister. What is it about this woman that makes it want to protect and defend her?
Paisley tilts her head and the look of concern I see in her eyes pisses me off.